Assistant General Manager

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an Assistant General Manager who is passionate about hospitality, leadership, and operational excellence. This role plays a critical part in supporting the success of a large-scale residential dining facility by ensuring high-quality food, strong financial performance, and an exceptional guest experience.

You’ll thrive here if you’re a hands-on leader who builds strong teams, communicates effectively, and takes pride in creating a positive, high-performing environment.

Department: KU Residential Hall Dining – South Dining Commons
Reports To: General Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Rate: The anticipated pay for this position starts at $50,000 annually. The final rate will be determined based on qualifications, experience, education, and years within the job or industry.

Schedule: Full-time; evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs dictate

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At KU Dining, our mission is to create an unparalleled dining experience for our guests, foster a culture of excellence among our well-trained and empowered staff, and provide inviting spaces that reflect the warmth of the KU community. We strive to set a standard that goes beyond nourishment - creating an environment where every meal becomes a highlight of the KU experience.

We employ both full-time and part-time team members to serve the University of Kansas’ diverse dining needs. While our operations are large and fast-paced, every role and every employee makes a meaningful impact.

At KU Dining, we strive to provide a strong work-life balance and usually do – though certain busy periods may call for additional hours or longer days. Even so, our team members enjoy reliable schedules, meaningful time off, and a collaborative atmosphere. You’ll take pride in creating great food for KU students and have opportunities to grow your skills and career.

Duties & Responsibilities of All KU Memorial Union Positions

1. Adhere to University and KU Memorial Union policies and procedures.

2. Demonstrate the organization’s core values and apply the seven Team Principles in your role by aligning your work with our Lines of Effort: Our People, Engaging Programs, Outstanding Service, Collaborative Partnerships, Inviting Spaces, and Budget Management.

3. Support the KU Memorial Unions End State as described by the Executive Director, and work to achieve and uphold the department’s mission and core values: community, dignity, empowerment, excellence, innovation, and safety.

4. Follow the 7 Team Principles: competence, creating a cohesive team through mutual trust, creating shared understanding, setting clear leader intent, written/verbal communication, disciplined initiative, and risk management.

5. Demonstrate a positive, solution-oriented attitude in performing job responsibilities and collaborating with colleagues to foster a respectful and productive work environment.

6. Always exhibit professional decorum while representing the KU Memorial Unions and the University, including routine events and meetings that occur outside of the office, around campus, and out in the community.

What You’ll Do

Every day brings something new, but you can expect to:

• Provide hands-on leadership to a diverse team of full-time, part-time, and student employees, fostering engagement, accountability, and alignment with KU Dining’s mission and values.

• Coach, mentor, and develop staff through regular feedback, performance evaluations, and professional development opportunities to support retention and growth.

• Partner with Human Resources to recruit, hire, onboard, and train team members.

• Support the General Manager in overseeing daily dining operations, including food production, service, sanitation, and customer experience.

• Monitor operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and adherence to standard operating procedures; troubleshoot issues and implement timely solutions.

• Assist with financial oversight, including labor management, food cost control, and operating expenses to support budget goals.

• Monitor safety and sanitation practices, including temperature logs and daily inspections, and take corrective action as needed.

• Ensure compliance with KU Dining, University, and state and federal food safety regulations.

• Model and uphold a strong customer service philosophy aligned with KU Dining’s mission and values.

• Act on behalf of the General Manager in their absence, providing leadership and operational continuity.

What’s Required to Be Considered

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated success in high-volume food service or hospitality operations, including leadership of large, diverse teams.

• Knowledge of food preparation, holding, and service methods, as well as proper use of kitchen and dining equipment.

• Working knowledge of health, sanitation, and safety standards in large-scale food service environments.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the organization and with external partners and vendors.

• Sound judgment and ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures, including handling confidential information.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Management, Foods and Nutrition, or a related field.

• Experience in higher education dining or comparable large-scale operations (e.g., multi-unit, healthcare, or hospitality environments).

• ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety credential.

• Demonstrated success in achieving financial and operational performance goals.

• Experience with food service management systems (e.g., Food Service Suite) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).

Physical Requirements

This position requires regular standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Must be able to work on your feet for extended periods (8–10 hours) in a fast-paced environment while maintaining food safety and sanitation standards. The role includes exposure to varying temperatures, kitchen equipment, noise, and cleaning chemicals.

Working Environment

This role operates in a fast-paced, guest-focused dining environment and requires balancing administrative responsibilities with hands-on leadership. Work includes interaction with staff, students, and guests in both front- and back-of-house settings. The position requires adaptability during peak service times and collaboration with campus partners. Administrative duties such as scheduling, budgeting, and team development are also expected.